Knitting machine



Jan.111 2 w 9 7 H. LANGER immune momma Filed Jan. 27. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 11, 1927. 1,614,073

H. LANGER V KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27.;1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 11 1927. 4,073

H. LANGER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

W de); ICE f Y /Z Jan. 11 1927. ,073

H. LANGER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 V g wovvw W 1% Patented Jan, ll, i927,

UhiiTfED STATES PATENT OFFifiE.

HARRY LANGER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed January 27, 1923.

This invention pertains to improvements 3 in full-fashion knitting machines, employed in forming what are commonly known as full-fashioned hosiery. To produce fullfashioned hose economically the work is di- 'ided into two operations, the leg of the stocking being made on a machine called the legger, while the foot is knitted on another machine called the footer, and although both the leggei and footer machines are practically identical in design and principle of operation, differing only in minor details, the present invention is particularly designed for most advantageous use in connec tion with the leggen Heretofore there have been numerous attempts in machines of this character, to provide means for cushioning the carrier rods at the end of their movement prior to engagement with their respective stops, and while these devices have been more or less successful in accomplishing this general purpose, it has always been necessary to manual.- ly adjust them to compensate for the various lengths of movement of the carrier ro ds, which are required in the forming of fullfashioned hose. This met with serious objections, due to the fact that an operator on one of these machines was required to manually manipulate various levers for controlling different operations of the machine, and, consequently, failure, resulting from oversight, to adjust the cushioning means, would cause serious damage to the machine. Furthermore, these devices have been more or less complicated and expensive in structure.

It is, therefore, primarily an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and provide a simple and efiicient mechanism for machines of the above character, which mechanism is adapted to retard movement of the carrier rods prior to engagement with their respective stops, thus reducing impact to a minimum and eliminating sudden and excessive ar with resultant wear upon the machine.

Another important object resides in the provision of a cushioning mechanism for the carrier rods, which mechanism performs its function during the various operations of the knitting machine, without necessitating manual control or adjustment.

A still further object resides in the provision of simplified means for imparting movement to the cushioning mechanism,

Serial No. 615,185.

whereby complicated gearing and transmis sions are eliminated.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a conventional type of full-fashion knitting machine, illustrating the present invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a portion of a knitting machine illustrating the mechanism for imparting reciprocative movement to certain of the longitudinal rods.

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.-

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 44; of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view illustrating a modified form of mechanism for reciprocating the cushioning rod.

Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating various operativepositions of the present invention, and

Figure 10 illustrates the fabric formed on the machine.

In illustrating the present invention, the same is shown in connection with the conventional type of full-fashion knitting machine employed in forming the fabric for the leg of a stocking, and comprises a plurality of sections formed between the standards or frames 1, which frames are connected by longitudinal beams 2. In practice, each section is capable of forming two stockings, but for the purpose of simplicity, the machine illustrated is capable of forming only a single stocking to a section.

Mounted on the frames 1 are brackets 3, which are provided with bearings for a friction rod 4 adapted to reciprocate longitudinally and extending throughout the entire length of the machine. Mounted in the brackets 3 adjacent the friction rod 4 is a stationary guide rod 5 which is engaged by the lateral ears 6 projecting from the friction boxes 7 and 8 mounted on the friction rod a. These boxes are of conventional structure and are capable of selective operative connection with the carrier rods in the usual manner.

Secured to the top of the frames 1 and extending longitudinally throughout the entire length of the machine is an ln-beam 9 which serves to carry various parts of the knitting mechanism, not shown. Secured to the beam 9 at spaced intervals are the brackets 10 in which are mounted a plurality of carrier rods extending longitudinally throughout the length of the machine. In forming the fabric for a stocking, from a single torture of yarn, only two carrier rods are required. Consequently, throughout the drawings and description only two rods 11 and 12 will be referred to. The remaining rods illustrated in l' igure 3 of the drawing are employed only where various yarns are used in combination, such silk, mercerized cotton, etc. The friction box 7 serves to actuate the carrier rod 12 which is only employed in forming the log L and one of the heel tabs H illustrated in Figure 10, while the friction box 8 is brought into operation to actuate the carrier rod 11 which is employed in forming the opposite heel tab H, which is formed simultaneously and in conjunction with the heel tab H. lhe car rier rods are provided with the customary yarn carriers Y, which carry yarn back and forth across the needles, not shown, in the usual manner.

As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, reciprocative movement is transmitted to the friction rod l by means of the driven shaft 18 on which is keyed the coulier cam 1 1, which rotates between the rollers 15 and imparts reeipr-ocative movement to the pitman 16 and consequently to the levers 17 and 18. The lever 18 is pivotally mounted at its lower end in the stationary be ring 19 while its upper end is connected by means of'a link 20, to the friction box bracket 21 which is connected to the friction rod 1 and he connecting bar 22, the latter extending throughout the entire length of the machine and carrying the cock boxes 23, provided with conventional slur cocks that engage and push the jacks, not shown, forwardly. The friction box bracket 21 is slidably mounted and guided .on the beam 24: which is secured to a pair of the frame members 1.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that as the coulicr cam 14 rotates, reciprocative uwvement is imparted t0 the pit man 16, the lever 17 merely oscillating in the statioin-iry bracket 2:, thus serving to hold one end of the pitman in place, while the other end, which s connected with the lever 18, will cause the same to be oscillated, imparting reciprocative movement to the friction box bracket 21 and thence to the f c on rod All of the foregoing description pertains to a conventional structure of full-fashion knitting machine and it will, therefore, be understood that no claim is made thereto, other than in combination with the present invention which will be hereinafter described.

As set forth in the preceding objects, the invention consists in a mechanism adapted to retard the movement of the carrier rods prior to the limit of their travel, thus serving to cushion the same and prevent sudden jar, with resultant wear, as the rods contact with their respective stops S. This is accor plished by the provision of a cushioning rod 26 slidably mounted in bearings formed in the brackets 3 and extending throughout the entire length of the machine adjacent the friction rod Reciprocative movement is in'iparted to the rod 25 by means of the auxiliary pitman 27, illustrated in idigure 2 which pitman is connected at one end to the lever 28 connected to the stationary bearing 25, while the other end is pivotally connected to the lever 18, thus receiving reciprocative movement. Extending upwardly from the auxiliary pitman 27 is an arm 27 which, by means of the links 29, is connected to the bracket 30 adjustably secured to the cushioning rod 26 and guided on the guide rod 5, thus preventing rotary move ment of the cushioning rod in its bearings.

From the foregoing description, it is ob vious that reciprocative movement will be imparted to the cushioning rod 26 simultaneously and at a reduced speed to the reciproeative movement of the friction rod 4, due to the factthat the auxiliary pitman 27, which imparts movement to the cushioning rod, is connected to the lever 18 at a point considerably closer to the center than the connection between the lever 18 and the friction rod.

In 1* ig tratcd f the drawings I have illused form of mechanism for reciprocative movement to the grcd 'llhis differs from the preorm in that the auxiliary pitman 27 red and the arm 27 is formed i nh the main pitiuan 16. It is obus that the results will be accomplish fl by this modified structure, inasmuch as the pit I 16 reciprocates at a slower speed thi the end of the lever 18, which is coni'iectcd to and imparts reciprocative 11.1 mcut to the friction rod l.

umntcd on the cushioning rod 26 and a l d the 3 i by means of set screws I irality of stops, 31 32, and 33 proauled with. lateral extensions which lira on the guide rod Sand ge the ral extensions 6, of the friction boxes 7 and 8 for the purpose of retarding movement of the boxes prior to engagement of the carrier rods 11 and 12 with their respective stops 573. Rotatably mounted on the cushioning rod 9.6 is a dog 3%- held against longitudinal movement on the shaft 26 by means of the stop 31 and the retaining collar 35. The dog at is normally held in engagement with the guide rod 5 by means of the spring 36 connected to the arm 37 of the dog and the arm 3 extending from the stop 31. Thus it will be seen that during certain operations of the knitting machine the dog is adapted to engage the extension 6 of the friction box 7.

In the operation of the cushioning mechanism, which will be described later, it is necessary at a certain point to raise the dog 34: out of the path of travel of the extension 6 of the friction box 7. In order to accomplish this the dog is provided with a depending tail 39, which, during a portion of the travel of the dog, is engaged by a cam projection carried by the beam 41 secured to a pair of the brackets 3.

Taking up the operation of the cushioning mechanism, attention is directed to the diagrammatic views lllllSbl'EttQCl in Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, and to Figure 10, which illustrates the fabric formed on the knitting machine. The tii. t operation of the knitting machine is to for i the leg L, which is the greatest width of the stocking, and therefore requires the greatest distance of travel of the yarn carriers Y attached to the carrier rod 12, this rod being the only one employed in form ing the leg portion. The length of travel of the yarn carrier in forming the leg width of the fabric is indicated throughout the views by A.

Figure 6 illustrates the cushioning rod 26 and the friction rod 4 traveling in the directions indicated by arrows. Consequently, the friction box 7, which is carried by the friction rod 4, is, also, actuated in that direction, imparting movement to the carrier rod 12 and yarn carriers Y. In the relative posi ion of parts illustrated in Figure 6, the friction box 7 is shown at a point where it engages the dog 34, and inasmuch as the cushioning rod 26 is actuated at a reduced rate of speed to the friction. rod 1, it is obvious that further movement of the friction box 7 is retarded and reduced to the speed of travel of the cushioning rod, which is considerably less than that of the friction rod, thus eliminating excessive jar as the carrier rod 12 engages the stop S.

In Figure 7 the cushioning rod and friction rod are shown as traveling in the opposite direction to that illustrated in Figure 6 and the friction box 7 has just engaged the stop 32, thus retarding further movement of the friction box and carrier rod 12 in the direction indicated.

In forming the narrow portion of the fabric the yarn carrier travels the distance indie cated by B on Figures 6, 7, and 10, and it is obvious that the same retarding action will take place, although the length of travel of the yarn carrier after the friction box has been engaged by the stops on the cushioning rod is somewhat reduced.

In forming the heel tab H, the travel of the carrier rod 12 is reduced to the distance indicated by O, and in this operation of the knitting machine the friction box 8 and the carrier rod 11 are brought into operation to form the heel tab H, the carrier rod 11 with its yarn carriers travelling a similar distance to the rod 12, as indicated by C in Figures 8 and 9. Due to the reduced traverse of the friction box 7, in forming the heel tab H, and the fact that the cushioning rod 26, with its stops, has the same traverse at all times, it is essential as shown in Figure 8, that the dog 34 be thrown up out of operative position to clear the friction box when the yarn carrier of the rod 12 is stopped at the inner edge of the heel tab, in order that the dog 34, secured on the cushioning rod, may continue its travel to the left and pass the friction box 7 necessarily stopped with the carrier rod 12. The operation of throwing out the stop 34 is automatically accomplished by the cam 10, which eliminates manual operation. On the reverse movement of the rod, as illustrated in Figure 8, the stop 31 is engaged by the friction box 7 and functions in place of the dog 34 due to the fact that the dog has previously moved past the friction box when the carrier rod 12 and yarn carrier were stopped at the inner edge of the left heel tab, and the stop 31 brought to a position closely adjacent the friction box. Obviously the friction box, upon movement to the right, will overtake and engage the stop 31 due to the fact that it travels at a greater speed.

Figure 9 also illustrates the function of the stop 33 which is shown at that point of operation where it is engaged by the friction box 8, thus serving to retard movement of the rod 11 prior, in the direction indicated by arrow, to engaging the stop S.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very simple, economical and efficient mechanism has been provided which serves to retard the movement of the carrier rods prior to engagement with their respective stops, and by means of the dog and cam for lifting the same at certain intervals, themechanism is capable of serving its cushioning function throughout the various knitting operations of the machine, the necessityv of manual adjustment or setting of the cushioning mechanism being eliminated.

I claim 1. In combination with, a knitting machine including a'carrier rod, a friction rod, means for reciprocating said friction rod, and a friction box slidable on said friction rod and operably engaging said carrier rod;

a cushioning rod, means for reciprocating said cushioning rod simultaneously with and at a reduced speed to said friction rod, a plurality of stops carried by the cushioning rod for-engaging said friction box prior to the end of its travel whereby movement of the friction box is retarded, and means for rendering one of the stops inoperative at a certain point in its travel, to permit moven ient of the cushioning rod after the friction box has been stopped.

2. In combination with, a knitting machine including a carrier rod, a friction rod, means for reciprocating said friction rod, and a friction box slidable on said friction rod andoperably engaging said carrier rod; a ashioning rod, means for reciprocating said cushioning rod simultaneously With and at a reduced speed to said friction rod, a pair of stops carried by the cushioning rod adapted to engage said friction box at cer tain intervals prior o the end of its travei, whereby movement of the friction box is retarded, a pivoted stop also carried by the cushionin rod and adapted to engage the friction box at' certain intervals, and means for rendering said pivoted stop inoperative at certain points of its travel, to permit movement of the cushioning rod after the friction box has been stopped.

3. In combination with a knitting machine including a carrier rod, a friction rod, means for reciprocatingsaid friction rod, and a friction box slidable on said friction rod and operably engaging said carrier rod; a cushioning rod, means for reciprocating said cushioning rod simultaneously with and at a reduced speed to said friction rod, pair of stops carried by the cushioning rod and engageabl with said friction box prior to the extremes of its travel, and an additional stop carried by the cushioning rod interi'nediate said pair of stops for engageinent with said friction box during a portion of its intermediate travel, and means for automatically rendering said intermediate stop inoperative at predetermined intervals, to permit movement of the cushioning rod after the friction box has been stopped.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at li iiilwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and Staterof Wisconsin.

HARRY LANGER 

